There are rumors going around ESPN that Aaron Donald is contemplating a return from retirement to the Rams.
They ran a video of him working out, he stills looks jacked. Imagine Garrett and Donald keying the Rams pass rush.
I'd say the Rams have a pretty clear talent edge at this point. I don't think it's all that close. It used to be close, but not anymore.
They're clearly better than us at nearly every level on offense: QB, RB, WR, etc.
Then, with the obvious clear on their DL/EDGE
But, the biggest gap of talent is at HC.
It's like comparing a Ferrari to a Corolla.
QB, yes but Stafford's end is near
RB, no. Call it a draw because we don't know Bucky's status but when he's with an actual good play caller and healthy line (ie - what the rams have given Williams) he's a better back. Gainwell and Tucker are better than Corum and Rivers.
WRs, yes but only slightly imo. Again put Puka on a different team. He's not a world beater. He's good but all he did was take Kupp's role. And look at Kupp once he leaves. Adams didn't do shit without an elite QB too (Rodgers or Stafford).
TE, both teams full of JAGs
O-line, we are better when healthy
There are rumors going around ESPN that Aaron Donald is contemplating a return from retirement to the Rams.
They ran a video of him working out, he stills looks jacked. Imagine Garrett and Donald keying the Rams pass rush.
I saw a video of him saying he has no interest
I'd say the Rams have a pretty clear talent edge at this point. I don't think it's all that close. It used to be close, but not anymore.
They're clearly better than us at nearly every level on offense: QB, RB, WR, etc.
Then, with the obvious clear on their DL/EDGE
But, the biggest gap of talent is at HC.
It's like comparing a Ferrari to a Corolla.
QB, yes but Stafford's end is near
RB, no. Call it a draw because we don't know Bucky's status but when he's with an actual good play caller and healthy line (ie - what the rams have given Williams) he's a better back. Gainwell and Tucker are better than Corum and Rivers.
WRs, yes but only slightly imo. Again put Puka on a different team. He's not a world beater. He's good but all he did was take Kupp's role. And look at Kupp once he leaves. Adams didn't do shit without an elite QB too (Rodgers or Stafford).
TE, both teams full of JAGs
O-line, we are better when healthy
Bucky trending closer to 1 hit wonder than he is a 1200 yard guy 3 years in a row
Bucky was a dude......in 2024. He struggled even when not hurt in 2025. Offensive line not great so we can chalk it up to that.
He starts this year on the PUP...then what....
not saying he is a 1 hit wonder but another not 1,000 yard year....and straight up disrespect to compare him to Williams
The Rams are definitely ahead of the Bucs in talent but not that far ahead. For the Bucs they need a lot of their young talent to step up to keep pace or stay ahead of the Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Eagles, Lions, Bears, Vikings, Panthers, Falcons, Cowboys and Commanders. The Saints, Cardinals and the Giants are not far behind either. The Bucs are definitely a tier 2 team while the Seahawks, 49ers and Rams are tier 1 teams.
i'd probably rank it like this
tier 1
1. Rams
2. Seahawks
3. Eagles
4. 49ers
tier 2
5. Detroit - expect a bounce back
6. Chicago
7. Green Bay
8. Tampa Bay
9. Dallas
10. Washington
Tier 3
11. Minnesota
12. Carolina
13. Giants
Tier 4
14. New Orleans
15. Atlanta
16. Arizona
It feels like the Bucs have been a tier 2 team flirting with tier 1 for a while now the last few seasons. I guess with the Rams picking up MG you could leap frog them over Seattle for now. The Eagles I am contemplating dropping them down to tier 2 to the recent trade of Brown. But they did pick up Woolen and Greenard so they should be a tier 2 team still.
The Vikings could ascend into tier 2 again and I think the Panthers are already there with their off season moves already. The Falcons and Saints should be considered a tier 3 teams now with what they showed toward the end of last season and the improvements they made this off season. The Giants I feel should not be a tier 3 team until Harbaugh has one more off season to sort out that roster because they have some big issues with their interior defensive line front right now. So I would bump the Giants down to tier 4 with the Cardinals.
Teams like Seattle and Eagles have won Superbowl's because of their roster. They had modern day Trent Dilfer's at QB. They will be contenders again. Usually you put defending champs at 1 and that division is tough with 49ers also being a tier 1 team, but Rams are offseason champs until proven otherwise.
i think tier 1 is pretty solid with only team i think able to break that barrier would be if Detroit rebounds to where they've been.
Tampa has been exciting to watch post Brady. You may recall we expected shit....so them contending for playoffs is if nothing else, at least entertaining. That being said, they are pretenders under Bowles. Their lone playoff win came against an Eagles team that was spiraling out of control and lost to double digit NYG and ARZ weeks before.
I agree that tier 2, 3 and 4 are fluid. any team can drop or increase but i feel their ceiling outside of DET is tier 2. Green Bay and Chicago talent isnt at the other teams and QB is hot and cold. Dallas held back by GM...but who knows with them. Was washington a fluke?